You can join the HBCC by contacting Andrew Mason at andrew@hbcc.net.nz.
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Hi,
please find below an article about our planned expedition to South Georgia in the “Wake of Worsley” , Shackleton’s captain and navigator. I am asking if you might be willing to reproduce this article in your club newsletter or other means of communication with your members. If so we will be extremely grateful.1500 kms of treacherous Southern Ocean and six men in an open lifeboat.
The journey of the James Caird from Elephant Island to South Georgia in 1916 is reputed to be one of the most amazing feats in sailing history. Following months on the ice after the Endurance was crushed, the twenty-eight men of Shackleton’s Trans Antarctic Expedition reached Elephant Island in three lifeboats. On this inhospitable isolated Sub Antarctic island no-one was going to come looking for them.
So on the 25th of April 1916, Shackleton set out with five others in one of the life boats, the James Caird, for South Georgia. This desperate and incredibly courageous mission was the only hope of rescue for the stranded men. For navigation (from one small dot in the vast Southern Ocean to another small dot) Shackleton would rely totally on his Captain; Frank Worsley, a New Zealander, born and raised in Akaroa.
Worsley successfully, navigated across 1500 kilometres of Southern Ocean through huge seas and hurricane force winds using dead reckoning and minimal sun sightings. After surviving the frozen, cramped and sodden conditions for fifteen days they cast up on the exposed side of South Georgia. Worsley’s navigation had been faultless in the most challenging circumstances imaginable.
To reach help from the whaling station they (three of the men; Shackleton, Worsley and Crean) then crossed the mountainous and glaciated unmapped island. After 36 hours of continuous travel over difficult terrain, inadequately clothed and equipped, they arrived at the whaling station in Stromness Bay where they were received as true heroes by the tough Norwegian whalers. From here they were able to first retrieve the three men on the other side of the island and some three months later the remaining twenty two men were rescued from Elephant Island. Problems with ice conditions and lack of suitable boats due to the war caused delays.
Without the incredible navigational and sailing skills of this adventurous and courageous Kiwi, this daring and brave journey could not have succeeded. The story of Shacketon’s Expedition would be one of loss and disaster rather than one of courage, endurance and survival against all odds.
In October 2012, five women from Wanaka are planning a “Wake of Worsley” expedition to South Georgia to ski the Shackleton Traverse as the first all womens team to do this and to climb Mt Worsley not climbed as yet by any Kiwis.
By retracing part of his journey we aim to bring to life, the achievements of this adventurous, brave and skillful, but under-recognised Kiwi hero.
We want to inspire others to connect to the adventurous Kiwi spirit and our seafaring history. We aim to encourage others particularly young people to aspire to the example of courage, hope and endurance set by this amazing Kiwi.
We need to raise $130,000 to achieve this goal ($95,000 of this being the boat charter). Any support large or small will be very gratefully accepted. If you would like to follow our progress, know more, or support us in any way please visit our website.
http://www.wakeofworsley.com or email us wakeofworsley@gmail.com -
Hi, I am interested in joining the club. Is there space for a phase II yacht? And what are the annual fees. Thank you
Brian-
There is no space, sorry, in the shed. Fees are $80 per year for the use of the club dinghy, 2 Lasers and Spiral, plus a one-off refundable key deposit of $25. Please emails us at info at hbcc.net.nz if you are interested in joining. Thanks, Andrew
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